Cyril Ngonge saved a home point for Napoli in the final minute after Morten Frendrup had given Genoa the lead with a powerful first-time finish just after half-time.

Napoli ran away with the league title last season but are now 27 points behind Inter in ninth spot meaning their chances of a place in next season's revamped Champions League are increasingly slim. Nine points separate Napoli from fourth-placed Atalanta.

"The players do what they can but things just don't go our way," said Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, whose position is under serious threat after collecting just 15 points from 12 matches since taking over in November.  

Ngonge's low finish meant Napoli avoided a ninth defeat in all competitions since Mazzarri replaced Rudi Garcia, It would have been impossible to imagine how far Napoli would fall so soon after last season's historic third league title.